Gideon Gibson was born a free man of color, the son of Gideon Gibson Sr., originally from Boston. Moving to South Carolina in the early 1730s, he became a prominent landowner, carpenter, and trader. Unenslaved, Gibson challenged cultural norms by marrying a white woman. During the Revolutionary War era, he led the South Carolina Regulator Movement, opposing corrupt officials and British taxation. His leadership in the Marrs Bluff Affair resulted in an armed standoff that led to the creation of circuit courts in the state. Beyond the war, Gibson advocated for justice and reform, and his family eventually integrated into white society. His legacy is remembered in South Carolina’s judicial history, highlighting the vital role of free people of color in shaping laws, communities, and the fight for justice during a turbulent time.
Andrew Ferguson was a free African American who enlisted in the Continental Army to fight for liberty. Serving in the South Carolina militia, he fought in battles like Cowpens and Ninety Six. Ferguson sustained serious injuries, including a leg wound at Camden and a head injury at Guilford Courthouse, which required a silver plate and caused lasting pain. Despite hardships, his bravery helped shape African American military history in South Carolina. After the war, he received a pension and was honored with a bronze marker at Kings Mountain. His story reflects courage and sacrifice in the fight for independence. Andrew Ferguson was a free African American who enlisted in the Continental Army to fight for liberty. Serving in the South Carolina militia, he fought in battles like Cowpens and Ninety Six. Ferguson sustained serious injuries, including a leg wound at Camden and a head injury at Guilford Courthouse, which required a silver plate and caused lasting pain. Despite hardships, his bravery helped shape African American military history in South Carolina. After the war, he received a pension and was honored with a bronze marker at Kings Mountain. His story reflects courage and sacrifice in the fight for independence.
Presented through a partnership between the South Carolina Department of Education and South Carolina ETV.
View the series on KnowItAll.org here.
The SC African American History Calendar for 2026 is now available here and for downloading here.